Tour the most populous cities in the world, stroll along serene tea fields and chat with tribal members when hiking up into the hills. You can have it all when you embark on this 12-day Bengal Journey through Bangladesh and India Itinerary. The trip takes you through Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagong and the Sundarbans in Bangladesh. Fly into Kolkata to begin the Indian portion of the adventure and travel to Bagdogra and Darjeeling. This is the perfect balance of nature, culture and bustling city life.
Highlights
– Visit the final resting place of the adored Saint Mother Theresa
– Get a rush from a fast-paced rickshaw tour through the buzzing city of Dhaka
– Bike through the fragrant tea fields of Sylhet and even sample the leaves yourself
– Take a ride aboard the charming Toy Train in Darjeeling
Day 1: Arrive Dhaka
Begin your trip in one of south asia’s most happening cities, bangladesh’s dhaka. check out the national museum for a fantastic introduction to the country’s dazzling artwork. the daunting national parliament house is a must-see. check in to the humble-but-accommodating westin dhaka, the best option in the area.
Day 2: Dhaka
Begin your tour of the city in old dhaka. this old-world architecture is reminiscent of the city’s one-time important role as one of the largest and richest cities in the indian subcontinent. walk through the shockingly pink palace also known as ahsan manjil. finish the day with a visit to the star mosque, tara masjid. finally, you’ll take an exciting rickshaw tour of the city for an unforgettable adventure.
Day 3: Sylhet
Make your way to sylhet (around 5 hours’ drive) through the major urban center of srimangal. this is the hotspot of the country’s tea industry. take a bicycle tour of the lush, fragrant tea fields. enjoy a seven-color tea tasting, before concluding your day with a visit to a local hilltribe to learn about a rare culture. check in to the nazimgarh resort to rest your head for the evening.
Day 4: Chittagong
After breakfast at your hotel, fly to the second-most populous city in the country – chittagong. upon arrival, check in to the peninsula chittagong. after getting comfortable, take off to see the shrine of bayazid bostami. the tomb is a revered holy place that draws many pilgrims. the on-site pond is home to black soft-shell turtles – a species that has been extinct in the wild since 2002.
Day 5: Dhaka
Go straight to the heart of bangladeshi culture upon this morning’s visit to a hilltribe outside of chittagong. the remote area has little influence from the outside world. observe tribe members in their daily traditional activities. the people still weave their own clothing and grow their own food. this evening, catch a flight to dhaka and check in to the westin dhaka.
Day 6: The sundarbans
Journey out of dhaka and into the thick of the largest single block of mangrove forest in the entire world. catch a flight to mongla, where you will step aboard a private boat for an up-close tour of the forest’s roots. on the way back to dhaka, visit the incredible mosque city of bagerhat. the city was once considered a “lost city.” the sixty dome mosque is a unesco world heritage site. travel back to dhaka by crossing the rushing padma river on a ferry.
Day 7 Calcutta
Depart bangladesh and travel to exciting india. your first stop is the former capital of the british east india company – urban calcutta. we recommend the oberoi grand or the taj bengal for a comfortable, luxurious stay in the city.
Day 8: Calcutta
Spend the day enjoying the city to the fullest. have a private tour of the city’s elegant colonial architecture. highlights include the national library of india, the sprawling 19th-century marble palace, the indian museum, the general post office and the victoria memorial. dine at the oldest polo club in the world for lunch at the calcutta polo club. this afternoon, visit the mother house, the final resting place of the revered mother theresa.
Day 9: Bagdogra – Darjeeling
Check out of calcutta and fly to bagdogra. from bagdogra you will be driven to lush himalayan town of darjeeling. the british introduced tea plants to the area in 1849 and the industry still thrives today. check in to the glenburn tea estate and enjoy the perfect combination of tea plantation, homestay and luxury resort.
Day 10: Darjeeling
Start your day by touring the fragrant tea plantations at the glenburn tea estate. you can tailor the teas to suit your personal preferences during a tasting at the tour’s end. next, take a drive through the dense simbong forest until you reach the river rung dung. a local guide will help you identify the local flora and fauna on a nature walk. cross the impressive manjitar suspension footbridge and visit the local shiva temple in the small manjitar village. return to your hotel this evening.
Day 11: Darjeeling
A visit to darjeeling isn’t complete without a ride on the quaint toy train. the train is thus named because it is the narrowest gauge railway – only two feet wide. next, have a private tour of the 1875-built ghoom monastery. enjoy a cup of tea with the senior resident monks and learn about their way of life. hayden hall and the tibetan refugee self-help center are both fantastic nonprofits to visit in the area.
Day 12: Departure
Check out of your hotel in darjeeling. transfer to the airport and fly through bagdogra to calcutta. On arrival, connecting international flight to onward destination.
| Place | Night (s) | 5* Hotels |
| Dhaka | 02 | The Wesin |
| Sylhet | 01 | Nazimgarh Resort |
| Chittagong | 01 | Radisson Blu Bay View |
| Dhaka | 02 | The Westin |
| Kolkata | 02 | ITC Royal Bengal |
| Darjeeling | 03 | Glenburn Tea Estate |
– Traditional welcome.
– Meet assist at the airport and hotels.
– Private boat trip in Kaptai lake.
– 11 nights accommodation as per the program.
– All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary.
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– All transfers, sightseeing and excursions by private vehicle.
– Local English / French / German / Italian / Spanish / Chinese / Russian speaking guide.
– Mineral water provided during the trip.
– Designated customer service manager and 24/7 call service.
– All taxes.
– Tips
– International Air Fare
– Visa Fees
– Travel Insurance
– Personal expenses and drinks.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– In Asia, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.